If you are looking to undertake a replatform project then chances are you will need to prepare a RFP (Request for Proposal) document. But what is an RFP and what are the key considerations when creating one. Let’s explore...

What is an RFP?

An RFP is a formal document that announces all the criteria you wish to achieve when replatforming systems. To all suppliers it is sent to, it will act as useful guidance notes and set criteria to conform to. It basically sets the tone for the project so suppliers know how to respond.

This is good for both the company and the suppliers responding. For the company it means all internal stakeholders know about the project and expectations and for the suppliers it gives them all the goals and objectives that the brand wishes to achieve. Everybody is therefore clear on expectations.

What are the advantages of using an RFP?

The process of selecting a new partner for a replatform project is both time consuming and complex. Having a comprehensive RFP document can help simplify this for you.

1) It is a fair model to use for all suppliers it is sent to. By having a clear group of questions and set criteria - everyone is given the same opportunity. This in turn makes it easier for you to assess the responses.

This is important as you want to remove any bias you might have for certain suppliers. It should therefore be sent to a shortlist that you have compiled either by research or recommendations.

2) It sets clearly defined parameters for everyone in the business. It means the objectives are clear and cannot be swayed by anything, making it about truly what is most important to the brand/business.

Key Areas to Consider

1. Business Objectives & Strategy

What are the main goals of the replatforming (e.g., performance, scalability, omnichannel support, cost reduction)?
What business problems are we trying to solve with this migration?
How does the new platform align with our long-term growth strategy?
What are the potential risks and challenges?
What is the expected ROI (Return on Investment)?

2. Platform Selection

Should we choose a SaaS, PaaS, or self-hosted solution?
How scalable and flexible is the new platform?
Does it support internationalisation, multiple currencies, and languages?
What are the licensing and ongoing costs?
How well does it integrate with existing business systems (ERP, CRM, PIM, WMS)?
What are the vendor's SLAs, support, and update policies?

3. Data Migration

What data needs to be migrated (products, customers, orders, reviews, content)?
How will we ensure data integrity and minimize data loss?
What historical data should be retained or archived?
How will customer passwords and accounts be handled?

4. User Experience (UX) & Frontend

How will the new platform impact the customer journey?
What level of customization is required for the frontend?
Does the platform offer responsive and mobile-friendly design?
How will performance (speed, core web vitals) be optimized?
How will SEO rankings and existing URLs be preserved?

5. Integrations & Third-Party Services

What third-party tools and services (payment gateways, shipping, analytics, marketing automation) need to be integrated?
Does the new platform offer native integrations or require custom development?
How will API capabilities and extensibility be evaluated?

6. Checkout & Payment Processing

Does the platform support multiple payment methods (credit cards, PayPal, BNPL, digital wallets)?
How secure is the checkout process?
Does it comply with PCI DSS requirements?
Can we optimise for a frictionless checkout experience?

7. Performance & Scalability

Can the new platform handle peak traffic and seasonal surges?
How will hosting, content delivery networks (CDN), and caching be managed?
What is the expected site speed improvement?

8. Security & Compliance

Does the platform comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other regulations?
How is customer data protected?
What security measures (DDoS protection, SSL, firewalls) are in place?

9. Operations & Backend Efficiency

How will product and order management workflows be affected?
Will automation improve efficiency (e.g., inventory sync, AI-powered search)?
How does the new platform handle returns, refunds, and customer support?

10. SEO, Marketing & Analytics

How will we ensure SEO rankings are not negatively impacted?
How will URL structures and redirects be managed?
Does the platform support personalisation, A/B testing, and advanced analytics?

11. Timeline, Budget & Resources

What is the estimated project timeline?
What is the total cost of ownership (TCO) including licensing, implementation, and maintenance?
Do we have the right internal team, or do we need external partners?

12. Testing & Rollout Plan

How will we conduct user acceptance testing (UAT)?
Should we do a phased rollout, A/B testing, or a big-bang launch?
What is the rollback plan in case of critical issues?

Replatforming to a new eCommerce solution is a big decision that can affect many different areas of your business. It may seem like a daunting transition at first, but if you choose the right platform, it can lead to greater opportunity and growth.

During the evaluation process, you’ll undoubtedly come across a number of big-name platforms such as Magento, Shopify and BigCommerce — which all have their own unique features and can work for certain types of eCommerce projects.

However, don’t forget not all eCommerce platforms are off the shelf solutions. Remarkable Commerce is unique in that we offer bespoke service to our clients - everyone takes their version of the Remarkable Commerce platform and tailors it uniquely to their business. The possibilities to this are endless and it means some of the most complex requirements are achievable.

To help you evaluate your options, we’ve created a free eCommerce RFP document, which includes hundreds of questions to send to the platforms you’re considering. Covering areas such as IT, security, design and development, this customisable document will allow you to evaluate each platform provider on a level playing field and put your business priorities at the forefront.